Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Today, I started by making a background and a table more solid. Interesting thing Greg told me was, although it’s a black cloth, I should be mixing Black, Cad Red and Naples Yellow Deep, because it reflects a warm light. 

Also, try to lose unimportant edges while painting a background. 

I spent the rest of the session working on a mask. He gave me another great tip, “Can you see the hook goes down to its nose?”, “Can you see number 3?”

You know what I mean? He’s looking at abstract shapes and tones, rather than eyes, a nose....

That’s the key. 

Work in progress. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in.